Cement slab finishing device



May 21, 1963 H. FERRELL, JR., ETAL 3,090,066

CEMENT SLAB FINISHING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1961 INVENTORS A NDREM/ KELL. Y 4WAENcE FERRELL. JR.

HERBERT C. 5CHULZE 72 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,090,066 CEMENTSLAB FINISHHNG DEVICE Lawrence H. Ferrell, In, 2440 Bunche, Riverside,Calif., and Andrew Kelly, 6661 Jacaranda Ave, Fontana, Cali-f.

Fiied Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 100,460 3 Claims. (Cl. -2358) Thisinvention relates generally to cement slab smoothing devices andparticularly to mechanism for automatically adjusting the angle of thefinishing blade from the pole end thereof.

It is one of the main objects of the invention to provide a smoothingand finishing device for cement slabs or the like whereby the operatormay by manual rotation of the pole handle quickly adjust the blade toany desired angle of approach.

It is customary when cement or like material has been poured from aconventional mixer into a slab area that smoothing of same beaccomplished by vigorous manually propelled blade action before thecement has set. The physical attack on the initially dumped cement andsmoothing thereafter requires so many degrees of pole and bladeadjustment that constant manual adjustment at the blade end of thedevice not only becomes a nuisance but also requires withdrawal of thedevice from the slab.

The theory of the present invention is based upon manual outer polerotational movement to quickly and automatically adjust the smoothingblade angle with respect to the manually reciprocated elongated pole. Itis necessary to constantly vary either the smoothing blade angle or tomove the operating pole to comfortably manual position.

Another object of the invention is ot provide an adjustable connectionbetween a cement smoothing blade and an operating handle wherebyrotational movement of the pole from a remote position either releasesor tightens the pole in desired angular position with the blade.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a pole thatis pivotally connected to a finishing blade and angularly adjustabletherewith by manual rotational movement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a releasableconnection between the pole and blade whereby manual rotation of saidpole from a remote position quickly results in desired angularadjustment.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of pole actuatedmeans for releasing the pole so that it may be moved to the desiredangular position with respect to the smoothing blade and thereaftersetting same firmly thereon.

Other objects will appear when taken in connection with the attacheddrawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the device;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the blade end of the device;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view partially in section taken on the line3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a modification of the pole actuated blade;and

FIGURE 6 is an elevational View taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown in FIGURES 1 through 4. A modification or alternate disclosure ofthe blade is show in FIGURES 5 and 6.

A cement or other material smoothing and finishing blade or trowel isreferred to as 10. The blade 10 is conventionally rectangular in shapealthough form is not important as far as the present invention isconcerned. The blade 10 is usually formed of steel or heavy metal andmay or may not be Weighted depending upon the nature of the particularjob. The blade 10 is moved either reciprocally or otherwise from aremote position by an elongated manually operable pole 12 which may beconstructed of wood or metal as desired.

The essence of the invention as disclosed in FIGURES 1-4 resides in theparticular manner of connecting the blade 10 and the pole 12. It isessential that the connecting means or mechanism be actuated from aremote position by the operator by manual rotation of the pole in onedirection or the other to either release or clamp the pole 12 in desiredangular position with respect to the blade 10.

The pole 12 is reduced in diameter at 14 near its blade end and a sleeve16 receives and surrounds this reduced portion. A collar 18 pressed orotherwise connected on the end of the pole 12. sustains the polesecurely but rotatably in the sleeve 16. Dual arms or rods 20 and 22project in an outwardly flared bifurcated manner toward a longitudinallydisposed metal strip 28 bolted at 29' on the blade 10. The strip 28 hasa pair of brackets 30 and 32 upstanding from either end thereof. Theouter ends 34 and 36 of the rods 20 and 22, respectively, are bentlaterally to engage apertures 38 and 40, respectively, in the bracketsor cars 30 and 32. The connection is pivotal and the pole 12 may bemoved angularly with respect to the smoothing blade 10. An arcuatelyshaped metal rod 42 is pivotally connected in an integral base rivetedor welded at 46 on the upper surface of the blade 10 and rearwardly ofthe strip 28. An angle iron cross piece 48 is welded at 50 and 52 to therods 20 and 22, respectively, intermediate their length. The cross piece48 is apertured at 54 to receive the rod 42 and slide thereon as thepole 12 is moved manually with respect to the blade 10. An eye 56extending through the cross piece 43 slidingly encircles the rod 42 andis either welded to or securely connected to a threaded nut 58 welded at60 to the angle iron cross piece 48. A threaded bolt 62 is embedded, inor fixedly connected to the blade end of the pole 12. Ihe exteriorallythreaded end 64 of the bolt 62 is received in the nut 58 and passingtherethrough may or may not have clamped engagement with the rod 42depending on the direction of rotational movement of the pole 12.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention as herein described issimple. The operator from a remote position with respect to the cementslab to be smoothed may by manual rotation of the pole 12 release thebolt 62 on the arcuate rod 42. Thereafter, any desired degree of angleadjustment of the blade 10 and the pole 12 may be accomplished quicklyand automatically without withdrawal of the device from operativeposition.

The alternate disclosure as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawingsincludes the same sleeve support for the pole 12 and similar identifyingnumerals have been used. The blade 10 has also been indicated as 10. Theconnecting means is somewhat diiferent although operating insubstantially the same manner. A fiat strip 66 bolted or welded to theblade 10 at 68 has upstanding end brackets 70 and 72 thereon. An angleiron cross piece 74 has pins 76 and 78 projecting therefrom into pivotapertures 80 and 81, respectively, in the brackets 70 and 72respectively. The pole arms or rods 20 and 22 are Welded at 82 and 83respectively, to the angle iron cross piece 74. The pole 12 is thussupported for pivotal movement on the blade 10. An arcuately shaped rack84 has a base plate 86 securely bolted or welded at 88 to the blade 10rearwardly of the strip 66. A metal rod 90 is embedded in or securelyconnected to the blade end of the pole 12. The rod 90 has a reducedblade end 92 that is received and shouldered in an aperture 94 in thecross piece 74. The rod 90 has an integral or welded hub 96 thereon uponwhich'is mounted a pinion gear 93. The teeth 100 on the gear or sprocket93 mesh with coinciding apertures 102 in the arcuate rack 84.

The operation of the modification above described is substantially thesame as in the preferred embodiment. The operator merely rotates thepole 12 from remote position and the pinion 98 moves in desireddirection in the rack 84. Theengaging teeth and apertures hold the bladeand pole in desired angular position ready for instant automatic changeof position as desired.

While the embodiment of our invention shown herein is fully capable ofperforming the objects and advantages desired, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the inventive concept disclosed herein. It is notintended that this invention be limited by the embodiments disclosed butonly as necessary in accordance with the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cement slab smoothing device, comprising: a blade; an operatingpole having spaced arms pivotally connected to said blade; said armshaving a sleeve attached thereto for receiving said pole in a rotationalmanner; an arcuately shaped member projecting from said blade; a rodprojecting from said pole; and a releasable clamping connection betweensaid member and said rod actuated by rotational movement of said pole.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said releasable clampingconnecting includes an apertured cross plate on said spaced armsslideable on said member; a threaded nut on said cross piece having aneye portion slideable on said member; and a threaded end on said rodreceived in said bolt and movable into or out of clamped engagement withsaid member.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which said pole arms have asleeve attached thereto for receiving said pole in a rotational andlongitudinal manner.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS719,723 Beebe Feb. 3, 1903 1,021,557 Runner Mar. 26, 1912 1,067,301Bricker July 15, 1913 1,124,073 Sullivan Jan. 5, 1915 1,562,374 SmithNov. 17, 1925 1,590,342 Abram a. June 29, 1926 1,713,513 Abram May 21,1929 1,943,479 HessOn Jan. 16, 1934 2,348,972 Gray May 16, 1944

1. A CEMENT SLAB SMOOTHING DEVICE, COMPRISING: A BLADE; AN OPERATINGPOLE HAVING SPACED ARMS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BLADE; SAID ARMSHAVING A SLEEVE ATTACHED THERETO FOR RECEIVING SAID POLE IN A ROTATIONALMANNER; AN ARCUATELY SHAPED MEMBER PROJECTING FROM SAID BLADE; A RODPROJECTING FROM SAID POLE; AND A RELEASABLE CLAMPING CONNECTION BETWEENSAID MEMBER AND SAID ROD ACTUATED BY ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID POLE.